Civilization 7 Struggles to Match Predecessors' Player Numbers
Firaxis has detailed the important 1.1.1 update for Civilization 7, releasing at a time when the new strategy title trails both Civilization 6 and even the 15-year-old Civilization 5 in Steam player counts.
Valve's platform shows Civilization 7 peaking at just 16,921 concurrent players recently - not enough to crack Steam's top 100. By comparison, the 2010 release Civilization 5 reached 17,423 players, while 2016's Civilization 6 more than doubled Civilization 7's numbers with 40,676 concurrent players at peak.
Key Improvements in Update 1.1.1
Firaxis outlined the coming changes in a Steam post, highlighting several quality-of-life enhancements:
- Quick Move Functionality
- New Natural Wonder: Mount Everest
- UI Refinements and Polish
- Settlement & Commander Renaming
- Various other improvements
Lead designer Ed Beach expanded on these changes in a developer video, with full patch notes coming soon.
Update 1.1.1 Key Features:
- New Quick Move option in settings for faster unit movement
- Improved map generation with Standard (single-player) and Balanced (multiplayer) presets
- Settlement/Commander renaming functionality
- Enhanced UI including persistent city panels and attack notifications
- Significant game pacing adjustments
The update launches alongside new content including the Bulgaria civilization and leader Simón Bolívar, available through the paid Crossroads of the World collection.
Mixed Reception for Civilization 7
Civilization 7 has proven divisive among longtime fans, reflected in its 'Mixed' Steam review rating and IGN's 7/10 score. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the criticism but remains optimistic about the game's long-term prospects with the series' core audience.
For players diving in, we've compiled essential resources including victory condition guides, key differences from Civilization 6, and common gameplay pitfalls to avoid. Our coverage also details all map types and difficulty settings to help new commanders establish their empires.
